The Patagonia Rain Shadow is a very good lightweight jacket, and the price is particularly appealing. The jacket uses Patagonia’s own waterproof and breathable fabric, which works well. There is a front zip and hem drawcord to keep out draughts and rain, while long side vents can be used to ventilate the jacket if you overheat. You get just two pockets, which are placed high on the chest, and they’ll easily take a map as well. The hood can be rolled down and secured, and when worn on the head it benefits from excellent movement and adjustment thanks to a rear volume adjuster. There is a large peak on the hood to protect the eyes. But the Patagonia Rain Shadow’s front zip does not get an external stormflap (like a lot of lightweight jackets), so it may not keep out the worst of the rain. The hood peak is very large and tended to obscure vision easily, while a stiffer peak would be better in windy weather. There are only two pockets, so you may prefer a jacket with more options. Some other jackets are lighter too.

Outer 2.5 layer H2No ripstop nylonInner noneFabric waterproofness no info providedFabric breathability no info providedSizes XS-XL (large); XS-XL (women’s)Weight 382g (men’s M)Made in ChinaStores in the UK no info providedVerdict The Patagonia Rain Shadow is a lightweight jacket at a great price with good pockets and a reasonable hood. It was awarded ‘ Best Value’ in this review.

Review by Graham Thompson First published in Trail magazine November 2008